On July 3, 2018 at the Administration of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGSU) the seventh Steering Committee Meeting of the Twinning Project “Support to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine for the further Development of Integrated Border Management Approaches for Travel Document Verification and Stolen Motor Vehicles Detection” took place.

The project is implemented by the Administration of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in cooperation with the Federal Police Service of Germany, the State Border Guard Service under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania and the Border Guard Service of Poland.

The goal of the project is strengthening the capacity of the State Border Guard Service in illegal migration prevention and corruption counteraction, to facilitate the effective implementation of the integrated border management system in accordance with the best EU standards and practices.

Director of the International Legal Directorate – Head of the International Cooperation and European Integration Department Oleksandr PANCHENKO in his welcoming speech presented the main results of the project implementation, in particular, expressed appreciation for the quality Schengen assessment of Ukrainian border crossing points and separate border units that will determine the efficiency of procedures for detecting forged documents and stolen motor vehicles; results of common assessment of cross-border procedures of separate border units were summarized; educational training and workshops with participation of experts from Germany, Lithuania, Poland were conducted in order to experience exchange on the use of latest technical devices of border control and to familiarize with up-to-date equipment for detecting forged documents used by the European border guard services. In addition, it was noted that the newly established Inter-Agency Working Group on the coordination of Integrated Border Management issues will be headed by the First Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Stepan KUBIV.

During the meeting, MS Project Leader Thomas OSTERROTH presented practical results of the Twinning project realization, pointing out that during reporting period within 3 components 6 expert missions were held, professional trainings were organized, evaluations and recommendations on effective implementation of stolen vehicles detection system were provided, inter-agency cooperation was strengthened, thereby contributing to improve the border control system, including IT-systems, as well as bringing legislation on integrated border management in line with the EU standards.

The speeches were also delivered by the Head of Operations Section 1 "Good Governance and Democratisation” Martin KLAUCKE and Advisor to the Department on Justice and Administrative Organizational Work of the Support Group for Ukraine Frank PAUL who underlined the strategic importance of the project and expressed readiness of EU, on its part, for comprehensive supporting the project.

In addition, Frank PAUL emphasized the need for enhanced interagency cooperation between the Administration of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service (NAUCS) in the context of the formation of an effective human resources management model in the SBGSU in line with the project "Human Resources Management & Information System" (HRMIS) implemented by NAUCS.

Deputy Head of the Projects Management Unit of the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union Inna BIELOBRATOVA introduced the main comments of the Twinning Programme Administration Office (PAO) to the project quarterly report, noted the professionalism of the key actors and effective, coordinated cooperation among the partners of the project that ensures timely achievement of its mandatory results.

RTA Daniel FARRELL expressed his gratitude to the project partners, presented plans for the next reporting period and informed the participants that the next Steering Committee Meeting and conference on the closure of the project are planned for 4 and 5 October, respectively.

At the same time, a financial report was presented, recommendations were discussed on the implementation and improvement of the process of integrated border management in general.

Experts of the Twinning Project for the State Border Guard Service of the European Union Member States, Office of the European Union Advisory Mission, representatives of the Administration of State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and others took part in the event.

For reference:

according to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ukraine “On Approval of the Procedure for Initiation, Preparation and Implementation of the Twinning Projects” as of 11 October, 2016 No 700 the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service coordinates the implementation of the institution building instrument of the European Union Twinning in Ukraine. Furthermore, in accordance with relevant legal acts the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service is the coordinator of institution building instrument TAIEX implementation in Ukraine. In order to provide effective coordination of Twinning and TAIEX the Twinning Program Administration Office in Ukraine was established, its functions are performed by the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the Standards of the European Union.

The project “Support to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine for the further Development of Integrated Border Management Approaches for Travel Document Verification and Stolen Motor Vehicles Detection” covers the following 3 components:

• Component 1 - assistance in monitoring and evaluating the new Integrated Border Management Strategy and implementation of the Activity Plan;
• Component 2 - improvement of the Border Control System, including the IT system, in accordance with EU standards and practices.
• Component 3 - approximation of national legislation and practice in the field of detection of stolen cars to EU standards.